Structural curb or wall



pril 21, 1942. H. B HAWEST 2,280,647

STRUCTURAL CURB 0R WALL Fild Dec. 176, 1940 &

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in structural curbs or walls for skylights, ventilators, and the like, particularly of the type adapted for use upon roofs or decks of buildings, although the invention may find other uses, as for instance, as a curbing or other wall structure intended for incorporation at any point in a building where the considerations of strength, lightness, heat insulation and water tightness are important.

It is an object of the invention to provide a curb or wall structure constructed mainly of sheet metal, which will lend itself to convenient and economical fabrication, will be light in weight, so that it can be transported, handled and installed with facility, and will have great structural strength both from the standpoint of load support and side stresses. To this end it is proposed to provide structural reinforcing and supporting members, within the space between the outer and inner walls of the curb or wall structure, preferably in the form of cooperative corrugated metal sheets having their corrugations so arranged with respect to the walls and to each other as to provide a trussed load supporting structure, and further to provide transverse tie means between the inner and outer walls, which in cooperation with the reinforcing truss means renders the structure extremely resistant to side strains, and to twisting strains that may result from the combination of load and side strains. These are important considerations when it is considered that the curb or wall constitutes a structural part of the roof or other structure in which it is incorporated, so that it must form an adequate support for the adjacent structure of the roof or other structure, and must also support the substantial weight of a skylight, ventilator or the like in exposed position above the roof where it is subjected to the effects of high wind, snow weight and the like.

A further object is to provide a curb or wall structure in which heat insulating means may be conveniently incorporated, either in the form of composition slabsor loose insulating material, and further to provide a structure which will permit of the incorporation of any desired degree of heat insulation by providing a greater or less number of heat insulation slabs or providing such slabs of different thicknesses.

A still further object is to provide a curb or wall structure which lends itself I to use with difierent types of roof constructions of varying thicknesses, and further to provide vertically adjustable cant strip means for the purpose of supporting and connecting water-proofing flashing, the vertical adjustability of such cant strip means permitting various thicknesses of' roof structures to be built after installation of the curb or wall structure. It is further proposed to provide such cant strip means in the form of an ease providing a space beneath it and at the outer side of the curb or wall structure which will permit the roof to extend beneath the cant strip into proximity to the wall structure, thus permitting the edge of the roof structure to constitute a supporting buttress at the outer side of the curb or wall structure to effectually support and anchor it against side strains. In the case of a wooden roof the vertically adjustable cant strip may be brought into contact with the roof after it is completed, while in the case of a poured concrete roof structure the adjustable cant strip may either be brought into contact with it after it is poured,- or it may have its lower projecting end portion imbedded in the concrete, thus providing a rigid interlocking connection between the curb and-the roof.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the various parts of the curb or roof structure, according to the exemplary illustrated embodiment of the invention, in expanded relation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the curb or wall structure incorporated in a roof structure of wood type, the supported skylight or ventilator, or the like, being shown in dot-anddashlines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the curbor wall structures incorporated in a roof structure of steel and concrete type.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper endof the curb or wall structure, according to the invention, of modified type, in which the skylight or ventilator attaching flange projects outwardly.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modifi d f m of curb or wall stnlcturer according to the invention, in which loose heat insulating material is incorporated.

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing another modifled form of curb or wall structure, according to the invention, in which an intermediate heat insulating composition slab is disposed centrally between two corrugated truss members.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a skylight structure supported upon the curb or wall structure, according to the invention.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the curb orwa'll'according to the exemplary embodimentof 'the'invention illustrated therein, comprises an inner sheet metal vertically disposed wall or "shell member I0, provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending horizontally disposed base portion II bent therefrom, and provided at its'upper-end with an inwardly extending upwardly inclined flange portion I2 bent therefrom, and a verticallydisposed outer wall portion'orshell I3 dis- *pose'd'inspaced parallel relation to the'inner wall portion I0, provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending horizontally disposed base portion I4, overlying the outwardly disposed marginal portion of the base portion II, and bent about its edge and secured thereto by a marginal lip portion I5 bent upon the under-side of the base portion II. At its upper end the outer wall portion is provided with an inwardly extending upwardly inclined top wall portion I6 extending across the space between the inner andouter'walls and overlying the flange portion -I'2'of the inner wall I11, and being secured thereto by a marginal lip portion IIbent about retained in this contacting relation by means of a pair-of corrugated sheet metal structural 'trussmembers 20 and 2I,-the corrugations running horizontally and being arranged in opposed relation whereby the inwardly curved-corrugations of the two members contact each other while the outwardly curved corrugations contact the insulating slabs. These parts are secured in rigidly connected relation'by means of shouldered spacer studs or rods 22 loosely engaged through hcles 23 and 24 in the respectiveinsulating slabs'and heles '25 and'26 in the truss members, the reduced ends of these -studs being engage'd in holes 27 and 28 in the inner and'outer walls and'being rigidly .i'iveted thereto by heading over the ends'o'f the studs, as at 29 and '30. These studs are provided at suitable intervals and are preferably provided in theupper portioni of:the curb or wall, the lower portion ofthe curbor wall beingprovid-ed with a different type of'fastening, which in addition to'securing the wallsin rigid separated relation also serves to secure-the vertically adjustable cant strip, hereinafter morefully referred to. .These fastening means, which are also provided-at suitable intervals, each consists of a spacer bushing 3| disposed .between the inner and outerwalls in abutting relation with the inner surfaces thereof and engaged'through holes '32" and '33 in the insulating slabs and holes 3 3 and 35 in the truss members, a bolt 36, headed at its inner end, as at 31, being engaged through this spacer bushing and through holes 38 and 39 in the inner and outer walls corresponding in diameter substantially to the bore of the spacer bushing. The head 31 of the bolt is disposed at the inner side of the curb or wall, while the threaded end projects outwardly from the outer wall I3 where it is engaged with a nut 4!] rigidly secured within a clamping channel strip II extending longitudinally of the curb or wall and provided at suitable intervals with the nuts 40 to correspond to the positions of the fastening means, these nuts being secured between the flanges of the channel member in relation with holes 42 registering with the holes of the nuts by crimping or swedging the flanges at the sides of the nuts, as at 43.

The vertically adustable cant strip, which is secured to the outer wall I3, consists of a downwardly and outwardly inclined cant portion 44 and a vertically disposed downwardly extending fastening portion 1 45, provided at suitable intervals with vertical slots 48 open at their lower ends, the vertical portion 45 being-engaged between the outer wall I3 and the clamping'strip M with the slots 46 engaged by the bolts-35. By loosening the bolts '36 the cant strip maybe attached and secured in any desired position of vertical adjustment, after the curb or wall is installed, or at any time during the'construction of the roof, depending upon'the particular type of roof, and as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In assembling the parts of the-curbor wall structure, according to the invention, the spacer studs'22'an'd the spacer bushings'zl are first engaged through the holesin the insulating ='sla"bs I8 andiil and in thecorrugated truss members and 2|, and thereupon the inner and outer walls are connected by engaging the reduced shouldered ends of the studs-22 in the holes 21 -and28 in'the inner and outer walls, the ends of the studs being-then headed over at 19- and to secure the parts together. The bolts 36 are then engaged through theholes 38 and 39 of the inner and outer walls and through-the spacer bushing 3|, and are screwed into tight relation with the nuts carried .by'the channel clamping'bar- II, which maybe tightened up against the outer wall, without'the-cant strip '44 in place, forthe purpose of shipment and installation, the cant strip being later applied by loosening the clamp- .ing'strip-4 I. Theassembly is completed by bending over the marginal lip I'I upon the underside ;of the flange I 2.

"The curb or wall is installed in the case of a wooden type roof or'other-structure, 'ass'hown in Fig. '2,by"mounting it upon the uppersnr'faceof the frame beam I'I, with the innerwall I0 flush with the vertical inner surface '48 of the beam 41, and which constitutes the opening in=the roof or other structure for the skylight, ventilatonor the like, the curb or wall being thereupon secured by'screws-49, engaged through the "flange formed by the base portion I4 of the front wall andthe underlyingbase portion I I of the-rear "wal'L-and'screwed into the beam 41. In this relation 'and before mounting of the cant strip the wall constitutes a form or abutment for the roof structure, which is in'the form of planks'EiIl-supported upon the'frarne beam M, the planks having their edges preferably carried over the base portion It and brought into close-substantially contiguous relation with the vertical surface'of the outer wall. This is made possible by the removability and adjustability of the cant strip 44. The result is a better and more conveniently constructed roof structure which may be of any desired thickness without interfering with the curb or wall structure, or necessitating that the curb or wall be raised to correspond with an increase in the thickness of the roof, and such as is the case with other types of curb structures which are mounted directly upon the upper surface of the roof. Upon completion of the roof the cant strip 44 is installed, and because of its vertical adjustability its lower edge may be brought into direct and firm contact with the surface of the roof, being thereupon secured in place by tightening the bolts 36 from the inside, this being made possible by the fact that the bolt heads 3'! are exposed at the inside. The flashing sheet 5| and covering sheet 52, which constitute the water-proofing roof surface, are carried over the cant strip and the upper portion of the outer wall and-may thereupon be secured by carrying the covering sheet over the upper wall 16 where it is secured in any suitable manner, as for instance by the application of tar or other adhesive. The skylight, ventilator, or other superimposed structure is secured upon the curb or wall in any suitable manner. For instance attaching screws or bolts may be engaged through the inwardly extending flange 12.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the invention as incorporated in a roof structure of steel and concrete type. In this case the structural steel frame member 53 of the building, in the form of a channel or T-beam surrounding the skylight or ventilator opening of the roof, has the curb and wall structure mounted thereon, and secured thereto by bolts 54 extended through the out wardly projecting base flange of the curb or wall, the inner wall l0 being flush with the inner edge of the beam. The curb or wall in this case constitutes a form for the poured concrete roof structure 55. Prior to the pouring of the concrete the cant strip 44 may be vertically adjusted and secured at a point where the lower edge of the inclined portion 44 will be below the upper surface of the concrete, the concrete thus imbedding the lower marginal portion of the cant strip so that it is interlockingly anchored to the roof. It will be understood that if desired the concrete roof may be poured before connecting the cant strip in which case its lower edge is brought into contact with the roof surface in the same manner as I shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the flanged structure of the curb or roof, for securing the superimposed skylight, ventilator, or the like, projects outwardly in downwardly inclined relation from the outer wall l3. In this case there is provided at the upper end of the wall l3 a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange l2 bent therefrom, and there is provided at the upper end of the inner wall II) a downwardly and outwardly inclined top wall portion I6 bent therefrom, which spans the space between the inner and outer walls and extends over the flange I2 to which it is secured by means of a marginal lip portion II bent about the edge of the flange l2 and against the under-side thereof.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the heat insulating means consists of loose fibrous or powdered insulation material 56 filling the spaces between the inner and outer walls and the truss members, the

til

outwardly curved corrugations of the truss members 2B and 2| in this form of the invention being engaged directly with the inner and outer walls 10 and I3.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another modified form of the invention substantially like that shown in Fig. 2, except that an additional heat insulating slab 51 is interposed between the two structural truss members 20 and 2|. Obvious other modifications may consist in providing an insulating slab between the two truss members and dispensing with the slabs l8 and I9, or either one of these slabs may be incorporated while dispensing with the other. Another modification may consist in combining the heat insulating slabs with the loose insulating material, and this may be done by providing the loose material either between the two truss members while the slab material is provided between the truss members and the inner and outer walls, or reversing this arrangement andproviding the slab 51 between the two truss members and providing the loose material between the truss members and the inner and outer walls.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within-the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part, a structural curb or wall comprising a hollow wall section having spaced side wall members and a bottom wall portion integral with one of said side wall members extending across said wall section and projecting beyond said other side wall member and engaged with said supporting part, said other side wall member having an integral flange portion contacting the projecting portion of said bottom wall portion and secured thereto, fastening means extending through said flange portion securing said wall section to said supporting part, a reinforcing corrugated strut member disposed between said side wall members, and transverse fastening means connected between said side wall members and extending through said strut member.

2. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part, a structure curb or wall comprising a hollow wall section having spaced side wall members supported upon said supporting part, and an inclined top wall portion integral with one of said side wall members extending across said wall section and projecting beyond said other side wall member, said other side wall member having an integral flange portion contacting the projecting portion of said inclined top wall section and secured thereto, a reinforcing corrugated strut member disposed between said side wall members and transverse fastening means connected between said side wall members and extending through said strut member.

3. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part structural curb or wall comprising a wall section having side wall members supported upon said supporting part, and a downwardly inclined cant strip secured to one of said side wall members, the lower end of said cant strip terminating at a point in a plane above the plane of the lower end of the wall section whereby an cave is provided beneath said cant strip to permit the roof structure to extend beneath said.

cant strip in lateral line with the lower end portion of said wallse'ction.

4. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part, a structural curb or wall comprising a wall section having side wall members supported upon said supporting part, a cant strip member comprising a downwardly inclined cant strip portion and a fastening portion, and connection means between said fastening portion and one of said side wall members permitting vertical adjustment of said cant strip.

5. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part, a structural curb or wall comprising a wall section supported upon said supporting part, a cant strip member disposed upon one side of said wall section, and slot and bolt connection means between said cant strip member and said wall section permitting relative vertical adjustment of said cant strip member.

6. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part structural curb or wall comprising a wall section having spaced side wall members, transverse bolt means connected between said side wall members, and a cant strip member secured to one of said side wall members by said bolt means.

- 7. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting part, a structural curb or wall comprising a wall section having spaced side wall members, transverse bolt means connected between said side wall members, and a cant strip member comprising a downwardly inclined cant strip portion and a vertically disposed fastening portion having a vertical slot therein, said slot being engaged by said bolt means to secure said cant strip means to said wall section and permit vertical adjustment thereof.

8. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting beam structure and a roof deck supported upon said beam structure and terminating in spaced relation to one edge of said beam structure, a structural curb or wall comprising a hollow wall section having spaced side wall members and mounted upon said beam structure with its lower hollow wall section in lateral alignment with the edge of said roof deck, and cant strip means carried by the side of said Wall adjacent said roof deck, said roof deck extending beneath said cant strip in proximity to said wall and being engaged by said cant strip.

9. In a building structure, a roof comprising a supporting beam structure and a roof deck supported upon said beam structure and terminating in spaced relation to one edge of said beam structure, a structural curb or wall comprising a hollow wall section having spaced side wall members and mounted upon said beam structure with its lower hollow wall section in lateral alignment with the edge of said roof deck, cant strip means carried by the side of said wall adjacent said roof deck, said roof deck extending beneath said cant strip in proximity to said wall and being engaged by said cant strip, and adjustable fastening means securing said cant strip to said wall adapted to permit removal and vertical adjustability thereof.

HAROLD B. HAVI'ES. 

